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DeLauro, Bonamici, and Frankel Lead More than 100 House Democrats in Calling on Trump to Join Them on Family and Medical Leave

July 10, 2017

Press Release

WASHINGTON, DC (July 10, 2017) — Congresswomen Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), and Lois Frankel (FL-21) today led more than 100 Democratic Members of the House of Representatives in writing to President Trump regarding paid family and medical leave. In the letter, Members expressed concern with President Trump’s plan and urged him to work with Democrats in Congress to support a truly comprehensive solution for working Americans.

“We write to express our support for providing American workers across this country with 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave that is sustainable, affordable, and inclusive. We appreciate your interest in paid leave; however we are concerned that the proposal included in your 2018 budget request is inadequate because it only provides six weeks of paid leave for limited circumstances and without a solid funding mechanism,” wrote the Members.

“Too many American workers are not paid enough to make ends meet. Providing American workers with adequate paid leave is an economic issue for families. Working families lose an estimated $20.6 billion in wages each year due to a lack of access to paid family and medical leave,” continued the Members. “Both women and men need to be able to take time off work to participate in the care of their children, in the care of seriously ill family members, and to address their own serious health conditions. Yet, only 14 percent of U.S. workers have paid family leave through their employer and nearly 25 percent of new mothers must return to work within two weeks of giving birth.”

The Members expressed concern with several aspects of President Trump’s proposal, including that it limits paid leave to the birth or adoption of a child, despite the fact that more than three-quarters of people who take family or medical leave do so to care for themselves or a sick family member. Further, the six week duration offered in the proposal is inconsistent with the twelve week national standard established for family and medical leave. The proposal would also administer the paid leave program through the unemployment insurance program, which would place this program at financial risk.